OUR NEXT COURSE

Summer 2025

Thursday 31 July - Thursday 7 August 2025

Our next course is a week-long chamber choir course taking place in Montecatini, Tuscany, from Thursday 31st July (arrival day and dinner and drinks together) to Thursday 7th August (departure after breakfast) 2025

Daily schedule

During the week there will be daily singing all morning, then a longer break after lunch, followed by more singing sessions in the late afternoon before dinner. Several planned evening events will be announced further ahead. Mid-week we will have a free day with an organised excursion (to be announced).

On arrival day, there will be dinner available in the evening with an informal drinks welcome afterwards.  Feel free to arrive at any time on this day. We will welcome everyone formally on the next morning and begin rehearsals.

The morning after our main concert there will be breakfast and a chance to say goodbye.  Feel free to leave at any time on the final day.

Final concert

The course will conclude with a performance in the spectacular Romanesque setting of the Terme Tettucio in Montecatini (which you will see in many photographs on this website). Note that we reserve the right to change the concert venue at short notice should circumstances force us to do so.

Social events

Many social events will be scheduled between our musical activities. Last year this included a day’s excursion to the beautiful village of Montecarlo, including a guided tour of the castle and sights; a trip to an olive oil maker including an explanation of olive-oil making; a wine-tasting; and a four course evening meal outdoors in a top-rated agriturismo. It also included an informal concert evening in which visitors could perform their party-pieces, both serious and humorous… a mini-golf evening nearby our hotel… and much more. Previous excursions have included a visit to the nearby birthplace of Leonardo, in Vinci, and a visit to the museum displaying models of his inventions.

Accomodation

Our rehearsals, accommodation and meals are all based at our beautiful and very friendly four-star hotel, a few minutes from the centre of town.

The hotel provides exceptional food, with plenty of choice, and is happy to cater for specific dietary requirements.

The family-run hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, free wifi, air-conditioning, parking, and is immaculately well-kept with friendly and helpful staff.  Each room has a private bathroom, hairdryer, air conditioning, minibar, safe, telephone, satellite LED TV, and free WIFI.

Montecatini Terme

Surrounded by stunning scenery, Montecatini is an easy railway journey from Pisa or Florence airports. The town has a great musical heritage; Verdi lived here for almost ten years of his life and Puccini spent much of his life here.

Montecatini Terme, a UNESCO world heritage site, is famous for its thermal waters, and for its fashionable restaurants, theatres and fountains.

“Montecatini Terme is one of the most elegant and best equipped spa towns in Italy. Designed by Grand Duke Pietro-Leopoldo I in the second half of the 18C, the town grew up around its springs at the bottom of the old Castello, present-day Montecatini Alto. The ghosts of Puccini and Verdi haunt the avenues of the splendid Parco delle Terme, which is home to the nine thermal baths restored in Liberty style between 1910 and 1920.”
Source Michelin Travel